CHAPTER TWELVE

Felicity was prepared to make an absolute fool out of herself. She was not going to worry about being too forward, or unladylike. Andy sure didn't worry about being gentlemanly, and she had to give herself one last chance. She knew she had promised Father never to see Andy, until he asked permission, but she justified today's meeting because if Andy didn't know about the ultimatum, then he wasn't given a fair chance. Felicity had thought about it long and hard that night. She wanted Andy to have one more chance. Today she would go looking for Andy, and she would give him his chance. If he did not take it, then she would forget about him forever, just as she had forgotten Ben. Doctor Andrew Matthews could join Benjamin Davidson in Felicity's graveyard of men she could never have.

It would be a warm Virginia day, it was only morning but already it was heating up. Felicity dressed in her lacy lightweight summer gown, trimmed with lavender ribbon. She took extra care pinning up her curly tendrils of hair in a cool, becoming, style. It felt heavenly to get the long hair off of her neck, on such a hot day. She dabbed violet water on her cheeks, and put in her pearl earrings. Felicity was going to great lengths to make herself look more irresistible. Felicity only wore earrings on the most special of occasions, because they made her ears itch and turn red. The final step was slipping into her lavender brocade slippers trimmed with their creamy ivory bows. The slippers were meant to be worn at summer parties. They were a wee bit too small, and Felicity always had to cram her feet into them. The smaller shoe was supposed to make her feet appear daintier. Felicity didn't mind a little pain, as long as it resulted in getting what she wanted. The finishing touch was her wide brimmed straw hat.

Most of his work consisted of house calls, but there was a small office up over the apothecary where you could fetch the doctor, or see him quickly if you weren't so sick that you couldn't move about.

"I am need to see Doctor Matthews," Felicity told the lady who ran the apothecary. "Polly is a little under the weather, I have a question to ask him."

"He is out on calls Miss Felicity," the lady replied. "You can go upstairs and wait for him though. I do not know when he will be back."

Felicity trudged up the stairs. The office was locked, but there was a small bench outside. Felicity waited for what seemed like forever. The whole time she got more and more nervous, but she kept rehearsing what she should say in her head. What if Andy didn't come back to the office today? When she was just about to give up and leave, Andy finally arrived at the top of the stairs. Felicity wanted to jump up and hug him, but she had to control herself. She was about to make enough of a ninny out of herself.

"Why Felicity, what a pleasant surprise," Andy greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"What?" Asked Felicity. "Can a girl who is sick not see the town doctor?"

"You sure don't look sick to me Miss Felicity," Andy answered as he unlocked the office door. "You look radiant."

"I am lovesick," Felicity replied as she followed him into the very little office.

"That I'm afraid I have no cure for," the doctor answered.

"You have the cure for the type I have," Felicity said blushing.

Andy whirled around gazing at her in with his expressive blue eyes, and shook his head.

"You are speaking crazy Miss Felicity, you can do better than me," he said.

"Andy please listen," Felicity said as she grabbed his arm, the feel of her soft hand on his arm sent a shiver up Andy's spine. "Nan told Father about you seeing me in the store, and the town gossips confirmed it."

"The gossips?" Andy snorted. "Like that dreadful Fitchett woman?"

Felicity nodded. "He banned me from working in the store, and he has banned me from seeing you, until you ask his permission."

A melancholy, and troubled look spread on Andy's face.

"So is this a goodbye?' He asked.

"It doesn't have to be," said Felicity. "Andy, you told me that you loved me, and now I have declared my love for you. You seem like an established doctor, there is nothing holding us back. All you have to do is ask his permission."

Andy stared at her, taken in her beauty for a few moments, and then surprised her by saying

"I have a present for you. Let me go get it." Andy disappeared into a small storage closet. Felicity looked around the office. It was small, with one small window. There was a desk and chair, and an examining table, stool, and a long cabinet filled with medicines. His desk was messy, covered with parchments, books, and empty inkwells. There was part of a biscuit that looked at least a week old, sitting out, along with a crusty soup bowl.

This is one man in desperate need of a wife, thought Felicity. If this is what his office looks like I would hate to see his boarding room or his house back in the Charles Towne.

Andy returned holding a small, flat, square, parcel.

"This is for you," he said with a flourish. Felicity took the box in her lap.

"Andy this does not answer my question," she said. "I cannot accept this, you are no suitor of mine."

"Open it, and I will tell you why I cannot come and court you," Andy replied.

Felicity stared at the parcel, she knew she should insist on giving it back, but it was her first official gift from a gentleman, and curiosity got the best of her. She ripped open the parcel to reveal a black box. Felicity snapped the box open. The box was lined with red velvet. A gorgeous emerald necklace lay perched inside.

"Oh my," she breathed. Felicity knew the beautiful jewels were rare. Joseph had bought Elizabeth a bracelet with small sapphires, but Felicity never expected to receive any jewels in her life. Felicity picked up the necklace and dangled it in the light. "This is exquisite," she gasped. "Help me put it on."

Andy smiled as he fastened the tiny golden clasp around her dainty little neck. It nestled in between Felicity's bosoms as if it were made for her.

"You like it?" He asked.

"I adore it, very much," answered Felicity. "Do you have a mirror in here?" Andy found a small, hand held mirror, so Felicity admire herself. If only Nan could see this gem! She would be green with envy. Felicity also knew that Annabelle Cole was going to make the trip for Elizabeth's wedding and bring her baby. Wouldn't Annabelle be envious as well!

"It came all the way from France," Andy said. "I thought you would like it."

"I just don't see," Felicity began trying to think of a polite way to say it was much too expensive of a necklace for a country doctor to afford.

"You are wondering how I paid for such a piece," Andy replied for her.
"I have other means than just being a doctor."

"But you said that the reason you weren't out doctoring the troops in the war was because there is no money in that," said Felicity, still clutching her emerald. "If you had other means of making money."

Andy shrugged.

"A man has to make a living, and I reckon you understand that. I run a betting house out of my home in Charles Towne. Some of the most wealthy and influential in South Carolina come to my house to game, and I get ten percent of the pot."

"Men bet all the time," said Felicity. "They do it down at the tavern."

"Aye," said Andy. "But I hold huge tournaments right in my house. I also have a network that goes all the way from South Carolina, down to Georgia, and up to Delaware. Men right to me with their bets, and I place them, and take a cut. Tis been a fine business innovation for me."

"Does it bother you making a living in such an unethical way?" Felicity asked.

"Not really," Andy replied.

"Doctor Andrew Matthews!" Felicity exclaimed. "You have no conscience!"

"Well then give me the necklace," said Andy.

"Whatever for? You gave it to me," Felicity squealed and wrapped her hand around it.

"I bought it with my gambling money," Andy replied. "Does it not bother you wearing a fine necklace, that is paid for with unethically earned money?"

Felicity once again gazed at the shiny, magnificent emerald in the mirror.

"No," she shook her head. "I like the way it looks too much."

"But see, Felicity you are like me. You take care of yourself. I don't think your father would understand."

"Don't mention the gambling," said Felicity. "You are just asking to court, not a hand in marriage. He won't know what goes on down in South Carolina."

"He will know when I spoil you, that a small town doctor shouldn't be making that much," Andy answered. "You are a smart woman, so I trust your father is a smart man."

"Say your family is wealthy," Felicity shrugged. "They have property here and in the Carolinas."

"No," Andy said. "I have property in the Carolinas. I don't have a wealthy family, I don't have any family to speak of."

There was a sad silence between them. That morning Felicity had been filled with hope that finally Andy would come court her, now that hope was gone. Father would never let Felicity court someone who ran a gambling house, plus he had no good family name to boot.

"Let's run away!" Felicity exclaimed. She jumped up and threw herself in the doctor's arms. "We can run away, to South Carolina. We can be happy."

"Felicity no," Andy said sternly. "You are a proper, and a fine gentlewoman. You love your family too much. You wouldn't be happy. I am not going to disgrace you having you run off with me. I should have left you alone. I should have never stopped into your Father's stores, indulging myself more and more."

Felicity began sobbing, and he held her. Slowly he ran the back of his hand down her cheek very gently.

"Lissie, I will always remember you. I cannot help where I came from. It would never work out," he said.

"You could still ask," Felicity pressed. "I could talk to Father."

"Felicity, my surname isn't really Matthews. I took that name from a pal of mine, who died. You do not know that half of it."

It was no use. Felicity had fallen for someone, and she didn't even know who he really was, what his real name was. If she hadn't have been in the office, she wouldn't have thought he really was a doctor either. Any man that she wanted to give her heart to had some reason not to want her. First it was the war, now this.

When Felicity went to her bedchamber that night she tried on the beautiful necklace one more. Wearing a jewel like that made her feel like royalty, and sadly she wouldn't be able to ever wear it, because she wouldn't be able to explain how she got it. It would have been so fun to show it to Nan. She placed it back in its black box. Perhaps she would show it to Annabelle. Annabelle wouldn't know any better. Annabelle had really rubbed it in their faces how wealthy her husband was, and now Felicity could have a little fun out of a rather solemn situation. Felicity placed the box in her night table, along with Ben's two letters, and the tiny wooden horse. That drawer was a coffin. A coffin for her lost loves. Felicity shut the door, as she was shutting her heart with it.

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